Examining Puppies

Introduction

Every morning, all puppies should be visually inspected. Use a morning checklist to prevent overlooking a problem. If you find something wrong, notify your supervisor immediately so proper action can be taken.

Throughout the day you should monitor:

1. Alertness and activity level.
2. Amount of food and water consumed.
3. Consistency of fecal matter and amount of urine.

Puppies typically sleep a great deal during the day and night due to their young age. When awake, a healthy puppy will be alert, full of energy and curious about its surroundings.

If food or water appears untouched, the puppy may be experiencing a serious problem. Feces should be evident on all kennel trays or on newspaper and should be well-formed, not runny or discolored. Puppies that have diarrhea or bloody feces may have a problem that requires immediate attention.

to view a series of pop-up windows with additional information on things to look for when examining the puppies in your store.